The first-half was a rather scrappy affair. There were niggling fouls from both sides and these disrupted play.

Play was end-to-end for the most part. However, both sides tended to play the ball long and this meant there was a limit to much really creative football.

There was little in the way of goal threat by either side. Both keepers only had one shot to save. The only goal of the half came after 14 minutes when Ben Atkinson scored from the penalty spot after a push by Jake Martindale on Adam Clayton.

Ferriby’s task became harder after 22 minutes when Ben Leyland was sent-off for a lunging tackle on Lewis Turner.

Farsley’ defence regularly looked to be uneasy at times. They often had to make hurriedclearances or ply backwards to relieve pressure.

Ferriby had their best spell in the ten-minutes before half-time. The only shot , though, was a Jack Smith effort that was comfortably saved by Kyle Trenerry.

Jake Martindale worked hard for Ferriby in a lone striker role. He was well-supported by Gary bradshaw and Charlie Dunkerley from midfield.

For Farsley, Ben Atkinson and Will Hayhurst constantly pushed them forward. James Spencer and Paul Walker worked well up front until both were substituted midway through the second-half with their afternoon’s done..

The second-half was a different matter with Farsley in total control. Will Hayhurst curled in a free-kick from 18 yards after 47 minutes and the game became one way traffic after that. Farsley capitalised on the extra man and space that they had. Their domination was such that it was not until added time that Gary Bradshaw had Ferriby’s only effort on goal. This was a 25-yard free-kick that forced Tenerry into a good flying save.

James Spencer scored Farsley’s third goal after 65 minutes despite what appeared to be justified protests by Ferriby that he was offside. Two minutes later he scored the best goal of the game with a blistering angled-shot high in to the goal from the left side of the goal

Jack Smith, who had had a good game in his first match start for The Villagers, headed an own-goal from Hayhurst’s corner for Farsley’s fifth. Substitute Luke Parkin finished the scoring in the final minute after he was left unmarked some 10 yards out.

To their credit, Ferriby never gave up and worked hard but that on its own was never going to be enough. Alex Wollerton had another good game and Jordan Windass covered every blade of grass.

Disappointingly, and once again, too many goals were conceded too easily. It is a familiar story and the players and managers are well aware of it. Solving it is less easy.

Manager Paul Foot commented afterwards,

“I wish we could go back and play like last Tuesday night and get a 1-0 scrappy win. I’ve been here four weeks now and, once again, I thought we played some really good football.

“Today showed how cruel a game football can be. Fifteen minutes in to the first a penalty takes the sting out of us. Then there was the sending off but we played with so much grit and determination after that. Everybody who was here watching the game could see that. I don’t think any of the lads played badly today.

“Going in at half-time, everyone was positive and the lads were saying that they could get something from the game. The early goal from a free-kick just took the sting out of us.

“Jack Smith and Jordan Windass both worked hard. Jordan had to drop back to left-back after the sending-off and he did well, especially as it’s not his normal position.

“We’ve got to dust ourselves down and look at the next three games and get something from them starting with Grantham next week.”